Hermosa Beach's Augie Lopez is headed to the pros. The San Diego Padres selected the 21-year-old USC catcher in the 10th round of the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday, July 12, keeping the South Bay native in Southern California as he begins his professional career.

Lopez was the 22nd pick of the round, according to Sports Illustrated. He spent two seasons behind the plate for the Trojans and played a central role in USC's best postseason run since 2005.

The biggest moment came Monday, June 1, when Lopez crushed a three-run home run in the seventh inning to break open a regional-clinching 7-1 win over Texas A&M. The blast, with runners on first and second and one out, put USC up 5-1 and punched the Trojans' ticket to the super regionals for the first time in 21 years. Lopez earned Most Outstanding Player honors for the College Station Regional.

"Obviously being able to play at home this year has been a blessing," Lopez told the Los Angeles Times after that win. "But the last couple of years we've just kinda showed up every day — whether that was in Irvine or East L.A. Community College for practice — just with the same mentality of we're going to show up and put our work in and dominate no matter where we are."

USC's season ended June 7 with a 4-3 walk-off loss to North Carolina in the Chapel Hill Super Regional. The Trojans finished 48-18 overall, going 32-1 at renovated Dedeaux Field after two seasons displaced to Irvine's Great Park. Head coach Andy Stankiewicz's squad made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since 2015.

Lopez has since entered the transfer portal, per SI, preserving his option to play college ball elsewhere if he and San Diego don't reach a deal. The deadline for drafted players to sign or return to school is Sunday, July 27, at 5 p.m. ET.

The Padres' draft strategy, led by scouting director Chris Kemp, often pairs high school first-round picks with college players signed under slot value in later rounds. San Diego used its top selection on high school right-hander Coleman Borthwick at No. 21 overall, the franchise's 10th consecutive high schooler taken in the first round. The Padres' minor league system includes affiliates relatively close to home: the Lake Elsinore Storm at Single-A and a rookie-level club in Peoria, Arizona.

Lopez's next move should come before the July 27 deadline.